An Alberta Emergency Alert was sent out Sunday, May 27 at 3:52 p.m. due to an out of control wildfire 16 km south west of Bragg Creek.

Rob Evans, Fire Chief for the local fire department in Redwood Meadows says the M.D. of Foothills put out a voluntary evacuation order.

"For the area down highway 762, west of highway 762, south of Bragg Creek and the fire is still about 7 km away from there but it was moving in a north easterly direction towards some residences so they thought it was prudent to put out at least a voluntary evacuation order."

The fire is in the south end of McLean Creek and is still burning having already consumed 100 hectares of forest.

Evans says his team is ready to help.

"Right now Redwood Meadows Fire Hall is the staging area so if they need any type of evacuation or structure protection with sprinklers, that type of thing we would be sending crews from here down south to help the MD of Foothills fire department.  There's firefighters here from Redwood Meadows and Rocky View fire services."

There's also been some air support fighting the fire.

"Yes, they have been using aircraft for the firefighting. It was a rather large fire and very active and just too dangerous for ground crews.  So ground crews are working on the side of it but the aircraft are working primarily to put retardant around it from what I understand as well as bucketing inside the retardant area as well."

Evans says the fire could become worse if the weather forecast is accurate.

"I was looking at the forecast and they were calling for some pretty gusty winds. That's gonna make it really dangerous because you can't predict it.  There's a cold front that's going to be coming through and when that comes through the winds are going to pick up quite substantially and that will add to it."

However, the fire has slowed it's progress for now but it is still growing and moving slowly in a north easterly direction on the east side of the Elbow River near McLean Creek. 

There is no immediate danger to Bragg Creek area residents or need for them to evacuate.

 

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